Feed intake, digestibility and energy partitioning in beef cattle fed diets with cassava pulp instead of rice straw

Abstract

ObjectiveThis study was conducted to assess the effects of replacing rice straw with different proportions of cassava pulp on growth performance, feed intake, digestibility, rumen microbial population, energy partitioning and efficiency of metabolizable energy utilization in beef cattle.MethodsEighteen yearling Thai native beef cattle (Bos indicus) with an average initial body weight (BW) of 98.3±12.8 kg were allocated to one of three dietary treatments and fed ad libitum for 149 days in a randomized complete block design. Three dietary treatments using different proportions of cassava pulp (100, 300, and 500 g/kg dry matter basis) instead of rice straw as a base in a fermented total mixed ration were applied. Animals were placed in a metabolic pen equipped with a ventilated head box respiration system to determine total digestibility and energy balance.ResultsThe average daily weight gain, digestible intake and apparent digestibility of dry matter, organic matter and non-fiber carbohydrate, total protozoa, energy intake, energy retention and energy efficiency increased linearly (p<0.05) with an increasing proportion of cassava pulp in the diet, whereas the three main types of fibrolytic bacteria and energy excretion in the urine (p<0.05) decreased. The metabolizable energy requirement for the maintenance of yearling Thai native cattle, determined by a linear regression analysis, was 399 kJ/kg BW0.75, with an efficiency of metabolizable energy utilization for growth of 0.86.ConclusionOur results demonstrated that increasing the proportion of cassava pulp up to 500 g/kg of dry matter as a base in a fermented total mixed ration is an effective strategy for improving productivity in zebu cattle.

Nutrient Yield of Brown Hemp and Its Utilization as Protein Source in Concentrate on Brahman×Thai-Native Cattle Performances

“…It would be logical to explain that the content of non-fiber carbohydrates (NFC) in BHM 10 and 20 was lower than BHM 0, and NFC, including starch, sugars and pectin, in which the starch density decreased as the inclusion of BHM in the diet increased; this finding was as expected and it is probably one of the key reasons that affects ADG; although the DMI showed no significant differences which is consistent with the research of Kongphitee et al (2018). Replacing rice straw with an NFC source (cassava pulp) in fermented TMR beef cattle fed diets improved growth performance, energy intake and energy retention because of the increase in digestible feed intake and the digestibility of DM, OM, NDF, and NFC (Kongphitee et al, 2018). The fermented TMR energy density increased as the proportion of cassava pulp in the diet increased due to the fact that cassava pulp has a higher NFC content than rice straw.…”

Enteric methane emissions, energy partitioning, and energetic efficiency of zebu beef cattle fed total mixed ration silage

“…This study demonstrated that an increase in feeding level improves ME intake, ER, and energetic efficiency (Table 4), due to a decrease in the proportion of energy intake to energy excretion in feces, urine, enteric methane, and HP [2,7,9,10, 24]. This result indicated a strong relationship in the ME and DE ratio, which ranged from 0.80 to 0.88; the proportion of ME to DE recommended by the ARC [4], National Research Council (NRC) [5], and Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) [25] is 0.81, 0.80, and 0.82, respectively.…”

“…The average of the antilog of the intercept of the linear regression between the log of HP and ME intake was used to estimate the efficiency of ME utilization for maintenance (k m ). Energy retained (ER) was calculated by subtracting the HP from ME intake, and the linear regression of ER on ME intake produced the slope assumed to be the efficiency of energy utilization for growth (k g ) and estimate MEm using ARC [10].…”

Broken rice in a fermented total mixed ration improves carcass and marbling quality in fattened beef cattle

“…Ensiled total mixed rations have superior storage life [ 1 – 3 ], aerobic stability [ 2 , 4 ], feed intake, and digestibility [ 5 ]. They enhance rumen fermentation characteristics, mitigate enteric methane [ 1 ], and improve growth performance [ 3 , 6 ], and the fatty acid composition of intramuscular fat (marbling) in beef cattle [ 7 ]. However, little research has been conducted to determine the effects of fermented total mixed ration feeding systems on the growth performance and carcass quality of beef cattle commercially fattened on this diet.…”

“…Consequently, it limits productivity and environmental sustainability [ 3 , 8 , 9 ]. Recent reports suggest that increases in the energy content of total mixed rations improve digestibility and growth performance in Brahmans, native Thai breeds, and Zebus crossbred with European beef cattle breeds [ 3 , 6 , 8 ]. For intramuscular fat deposition to occur in finishing cattle, the net energy consumed by the animals must exceed their requirements for maintenance and production.…”